Top 3 ways to re-energize your administrative staff

Bayt.com weekly report

No matter what type of industry they work in, admins will always be those who make sure everything runs smoothly, striving 24/7 to impact personal development and the company’s ultimate productivity. They send out countless emails per week, know the corporate agenda from A to Z, and are always there to solve clients’ problems and hear their complaints.

Here are some tips from experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 job site, to help you show your appreciation for admins invaluable work and recognize their role as the backbone of the organization.

1. Have them participate in meetings

Admins earn their own spot in the office and it’s very uncommon to see them somewhere else. Still, even though they’re not included in meetings and conferences, they know what’s happening around them at all times.

But why exactly are they not taking part in meetings as other employees do? What if you let your administrative assistants attend official gatherings and brainstorming sessions, and not just have them take notes and monitor the time? This would be an easy way to have another perspective, as the admins knowledge and expertise will cast a new light on the issue to discuss or the decision to make. By bringing together your admins with the other employees you’re giving everyone a better understanding of how the company operates and collaboratively achieves its goals. Most importantly, you’re nurturing a sense of ownership and trust, as you’re demonstrating how much the opinion of your admins means to you and to the rest of the team. In fact, the Bayt.com ‘Meetings in the MENA Workplace’ poll, September 2014, shows that 72 percent of MENA professionals say that meetings are always helpful and an effective use of people’s time.

2. Invest in their job role

It’s often easy to dismiss the elephant in the room and overlook its role as merely a support function. On the contrary, admins are capable individuals with a high-level of education and a strong mindset. You already know how important their role is and how they can bring growth to the company. So all you have to do is give value to their work, invest in them, and provide them the opportunity to excel at their career. After all, if you invest in your admin staff, you’re basically investing in your company.

Encourage them to attend professional conferences, offer development opportunities and workshops in soft/hard skills and support their continuous learning. This will help them acquire new skills, tools, and the much-needed self-confidence. Being recognized for their crucial role and potential, admin will also learn how to deal with criticism and find a new boost to lead the workplace as much as they can. Bayt.com provides an array of online courses and tests that can help your employees learn new skills or hone old ones. 3. Involve them in your social media marketing plan

Incorporating your employees’ social media enthusiasm into the company’s marketing strategy is a good step to share corporate culture and values. Your admin staff should also get engaged in the exciting process. In this manner, they can stay in the loop with regard to all company-related news, events, and developments.

Also, with the large scale migration to the Gulf countries of the last decades, many administrative professionals are likely to be from a different background. Whether your company is based in Dubai, Riyadh or Doha, inviting your admin workers to play a role in your social media plan is another way to make them feel like part of the business family while offering their invaluable regarding social media and networking.